Lubricating means for journal box



Aug. 4, 1959 N. T. oLsEN LUBRICATING MEANS FOR JOURNAL Box Filed Feb. 27, 1958 PIG. 2.

PIG. 4.

INVENTOR NORMAN T. OL SEN H Il ATTORNEY nite LUBRICATING MEANS FOR JOURNAL BOX Norman T. Olsen, Palatine, Ill., assignor to Poor & Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to a unit for lubricating car axle journals.

While many attempts have been made to apply lubricant from the bottom of a journal box to the end of the car axle, nevertheless cotton waste is still the most widely usedwicking medium, notwithstanding the liability resulting from the likelihood that, when its bers collect between the axle and the brass, hot boxes occur. The wicking action of cotton waste demonstrates the desirability of utilizing shredded fibrous or fabric material, or a combination thereof, because of its well known capillary properties, and the present invention aims to follow the accepted practice, but to avoid its disadvantages.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the invention is to provide a self-contained capillary oil feeding unit which fits into the journal box and is so constructed as to provide a Acontinuing embracing contact with the sides of the car axle, while, at the same time, having no loose fibers which are likely to become trapped between the car axle and the brass. vention includes a Ilubricating pad having a transversely arcuate interior `spring frame whose ends inherently have sufficient strength to force opposite edge portions of the pad, positioned in the oil space of the box, against the periphery of the car axle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unit in the nature of a pad wherein the spring means is ernbodied or encased in a filler which, in turn, is covered by a nonglazing fabric to completely house the ller and the spring means for pressing pre-formed edge portions or the like continuously against the side of the axle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unit intended to t snugly within the bottom of the box between the inner walls thereof and the axle, made in a form that permits of ready insertion or |withdrawal of the unit through the door of the tbox, even taking into account that the unit may be made in transversely hinged portions which enable the same to clear the relatively restricted space between the end of the axle and the front of the box.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a journal box showing the present lubricating unit in working position.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the lubricating pad as In its primary aspect the inrates Patent it is made to include a series of connected, transversely rice mitting the body to partake of sections which are relatively hingedly connected by the exterior fabric coverlng.

Similar reference characters -designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

According to Figure l the journal box designated generally as A includes the usual brass B for receiving the journal portion C of the car axle D. The bottom of the journal box A is intended, according to the usual custom, to contain lubricating oil E.

The present lubricating unit is designated generally as L and comprises an interior spring frame preferably including a plurality of spaced, substantially C-shaped leaf applicator springs l. which are of transversely arcuate profile, and which may be connected to one or more longitudinally disposed spring strips 2 to provide an internal frame. The wicking body formed about and concealing the springs is also of substantially C-shaped cross section, as will presently appear.

As will be more particularly observed from Figure 2, the applicator springs are one of the distinctive features of the invention, because they tend to hold the edges of the troughed wicking body against the axle. These springs preferably have their free edges bent or doubled back on themselves to provide in effect substantially enlarged, blunt, U-shaped portions whose bights 3 are preferably covered with a neoprene or equivalent resilient material 4.

The distance or space between the upper ends 3 of the springs is such that when they are embedded in a filler, the exterior edges of the filler, at a point between the ends 3 3, are less than the diameter of the journal C, to insure firm contact therewith as the axle tends to move up and down in the box.

The spring frame 1, 2, is embedded in foam rubber, waste cotton or the like, which completely and effectively encases and surrounds the metal spring skeleton. The pad or filler 5 containing the applicator springs is covered with an external non-glazing tufted fabric 6 which provides rapid wicking or capillary action for conveying lubricant from the box to the journal portion of the axle.

As will be seen from Figure 2, the lubricating unit thus described includes in effect opposite axle embracing edges or wing portions 7 providing a trough 8 therebetween in which the lubricant collects, either from the primary source of oil E in the journal box, or by receiving the excess `supplied to the journal part of the axle.

Accordingly, it will be understood that in its primary aspect, the present lubricating pad is of substantially C- shaped cross-sectional shape in the sense that springs of that form are covered to provide a `self-contained medial groove Iwhich provides a lubricant trough. The body of the pad and its covering 6 are intended substantially to fill the box from the bottom and the sides to force the continuous fabric applicator edges 7, 7, into contact with the journal portion of the axle.

In some cases where the `distance between the front end of the journal portion of the axle and the inner side of the front of the box is close, and it is not intended to rely entirely upon the exibility or yieldability of the connectors 2 for the springs 1, it is intended to utilize the construction shown in Figure 4. In this arrangement it will be seen that two of the springs 12L are connected as at 2a but that the third spring 10 is not attached to the connector 2a leaving the ends of the transversely arched spring unit 10 free to move with respect to its counterparts and the longitudinal dimension of the pad to facilitate ready insertion into position. In this form a distinctive feature of the invention resides in providing the tufted, non-glazing fabric covering 6a with a transversely oblique crease which forms a hinge-line 11 so that when this type of unit is used, the supply of lubricant will not be starved at the location of the joint 11, the Obliquity thereof to the side edges taking care of spreading of the oil on the journal in a 'satisfactory manner.`

From' the foregoing it will be understood *thatV the present invention provides a self-contained lubricating funit wherein a ,fabric lcovered pad having appropriate llris urged by pre-formed arcuate springs in such a manner that opposite upper edges of the pad embrace and 'contact the journal part of the axle, effectively distributing lubricant thereon.

I claim: i

A ,lubricating unit yforthe portion lof a car wheel axle disposed in a journal box, comprising, an vinterior frame including a plurality of substantially C-shaped at springs ldisposed in spaced, longitudinally aligned relation, yieldable longitudinal Astrips connecting at least a pair of said Springs, one of said springs having no connection Iwith said strip, a pad of shredded capillary material encasing said springs, and a tufted, non-glazing fabric covering for said pad and creased on a line oblique to the body to provide a hinge to permit one end of the body to flex to a greater degree than when all of the springs are connected -by a strip, whereby, the unit may be inserted with facility Ibetween the end of the axle and the front of the box when the space therebetween is too small to admit a unit where all of the applicator springs are connected in a single frame, and also to insure 'the fabric spreading a wide band vof oil l'm on the axle;

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

